One of the most important things we can do as parents is to teach our children how to be charitable. It is never too early to involve your children in a project that allows them to give back to the family and community. Below are organizations that offer volunteer opportunities and activities you can do as a family. Here is your guide to Kid-Friendly Volunteer Opportunities for NJ Families.

Kid-Friendly Volunteer Opportunities for NJ Families

Organizations with Volunteer Opportunities for Kids and Families:

Alex’s Lemonade (Volunteer from Home)
At Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, the primary focus is to find a cure for all childhood cancers. Children can get involved and raise money by following simple instructions at this website.

Alliance for a Living Ocean (Long Beach Township, NJ)
At Alliance for a Living Ocean, they champion every step towards living a life with less plastic. From hosting beach clean ups to educating on the harmful effects of plastic pollution in our oceans, their mission is to safeguard our shores for future generations

Allowance Tree (Volunteer from Home)
AllowanceTree is a virtual banking system that represents the real money children receive from their parents. This site allows children to donate a portion of their allowance to charity while earning bonus points.

Animal Welfare Association (Voorhees, NJ)
Volunteering at the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees gives you the opportunity to make a noticeable impact on the lives on homeless animals in South Jersey and beyond.

Blessing Bag Brigade (Atlantic Highlands, NJ)
The Blessing Bag Brigade NJ is dedicated to showing compassion and humanitarianism towards those in need. Committed to aiding the homeless and educating the public.

Bridge of Books Foundation (Rumson, NJ)
Bridge of Books Foundation’s goal is to get as many books as possible into the hands of New Jersey’s underserved children.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids (Volunteer from Home)
Cards for Hospitalized Kids is an organization that spreads hope, joy and magic to hospitalized kids across America through uplifting, handmade cards.

Child Care Resources Diaper Bank (Neptune, NJ)
Child Care Resources offers volunteer opportunities for organizations (schools, religious organizations, scout troops, offices, libraries, businesses. fire stations, etc.) that want to collect diapers to support the Diaper Bank.

Color A Smile (Volunteer from Home)
Color A Smile collects crayon drawings from school children. Every month they distribute these drawings to Nursing Homes, Meals on Wheels Programs, and Individuals all across the country. Their goal is to make people smile! All you have to do is make a drawing and send it in.

Community Food Bank of NJ (Multiple Locations)
Community Food Bank of NJ serves as a champion for addressing root causes of hunger, delivering neighbor-centered solutions and fostering collaborative partnerships across all sectors of society for New Jersey.

DoSomething.org (Volunteer from Home)
DoSomething.org is the country’s largest not-for-profit for young people and social change. Bullying. Animal cruelty. Homelessness. Cancer. The list goes on. DoSomething.org spearheads national campaigns so 13- to 25-year-olds can make an impact – without ever needing money, an adult, or a car.

Elijah’s Promise (New Brunswick, NJ)
Elijah’s Promise harnesses the power of food to break the cycle of poverty, alleviate hunger, and change lives.

Eva’s Village (Paterson, NJ)
Community Kitchen at Eva’s Village serves close to 1,000 meals a day and serves as a pathway to social services and behavioral health programs addressing hunger, homelessness, poverty, addiction and mental health issues, helping thousands of men, women, and children each year.

Family Promise of Bergen County (Ridgewood, NJ)
Family Promise of Bergen County’s mission is to empower homeless working families to become self-sufficient by providing temporary housing and personalized support, as well as address food insecurity in the community every day.

Flags Across the Nation (Volunteer from Home)
Their programs foster love of the United States of America, respect for the American flag and support for our troops, wounded warriors and veterans. They welcome your participation to make a patriotic difference by writing Letters to the Troops, telling children about our art contest Flags of Freedom and joining to promote patriotism through the arts.

Food Bank of Southern New Jersey (Pennsauken, NJ)
The Food Bank of South Jersey exists to provide an immediate solution to the urgent problem of hunger by providing food to people in need, teaching them to eat nutritiously, and helping them to find sustainable ways to improve their lives.

For the Troops (Volunteer from Home)
For The Troops’ mission is to send care packages to our front line troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Fulfill (Various Locations)
Ending hunger in our communities is a complex challenge, so Fulfill provides a full suite of programs to provide the resources people need to become self-sufficient.

JBJ Soul Kitchen of Red Bank (Multiple Locations)
Volunteers are essential to the JBJ Soul Kitchen mission and are the life blood of what they do. Volunteers are guided by our Support Staff and given opportunities to help others in the community.

Jersey Cares (Various Locations)
As a leader in volunteerism in New Jersey, Jersey Cares increases the level of meaningful volunteer engagement by creating and managing efficient, impactful projects that address critical community-identified needs.

Kitkat Playroom (Woodbury, NJ)
Kitkat Playroom rescues the most vulnerable kittens and nurture them until they are ready for their furever homes. How does snuggling with kittens sound to you? They could use your help!

Liquid Church Community Outreach (Various Locations)
At Liquid, Community Outreach is part of their DNA. They want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, serving our neighbors-in-need around New Jersey and beyond.

Liv Like A Unicorn (Colts Neck, NJ)
Liv Like A Unicorn relies on our network of volunteers to deliver and collect toys, clothing, food, and other such items that are donated to the families they support.

Lunch Break (Red Bank, NJ)
Lunch Break continues to provide life’s basic necessities of food, clothing, life skills and fellowship to the financially insecure individuals and families in Monmouth County and beyond.

Marine Parents: Care Package Project (Volunteer from Home)
They need cards and letters from you, the American people who support our troops. Please consider working with your office, school, church or organization to make cards or write letters to include in care packages sent overseas.

Market Street Mission (Morristown, NJ)
The mission at Market Street is to surround our homeless, hungry and those struggling with addiction with God’s love and everything they need to get back on their feet – food and shelter, counseling and job training, spiritual guidance and Bible study – to live stable, productive lives in our community.

Meals on Wheels (Various Locations)
Meals on Wheels is a nationwide network of community-based, non-profit programs dedicated to providing seniors in their communities with the support that enables them to remain living in their own homes, where they want to be. This support is typically a nutritious meal, a friendly visit and a quick safety check.

Middletown Township Volunteer Opportunities (Middletown Township, NJ)
Looking for community service hours, something fun to do, or a chance to meet new people? Why not volunteer for Middletown Township? Their list is ever changing. See what volunteer opportunities are available.

Moms Helping Moms (Various Locations)
Moms Helping Moms Foundation provides underserved families in New Jersey with equitable access to the essentials they need to provide their children with a safe and healthy start.

Monmouth County Park System Volunteer Opportunities (Monmouth County NJ)
Share your time and talents and become a member of the Park System Volunteer team. Meet others from your community, or bring your friends, family, classmates or co-workers to assist with a variety of activities and projects.

Nourish.NJ (Morristown, NJ)
Nourish.NJ creates lasting solutions to the problems of hunger, homelessness and poverty. They offer food, housing, work readiness, medical, social and educational services 365 days a year in a warm, safe and caring environment, free of charge, no questions asked.

Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer Center National Network (Various Locations)
Visitors can click a state on a U.S. map to find “volunteer centers” within each state that offer volunteering opportunities. A special section, “Family Matters,” highlights volunteering as a family, with suggestions on how to participate in “National Family Volunteer Day.”

Post Pals (Volunteer from Home)
Post Pals would like people to ‘post a smile on a sick child’s face’ by forwarding letters and cards to them, along with emails and gifts if you like. Post pals is very simple to use, in that you can read each child’s story on the website and their postal contact details are available so that you can act straightaway if you wish, and get started in making a child smile.

PRAB, Inc. (New Brunswick, NJ)
PRAB is a comprehensive human services organization in New Brunswick, NJ. They partner with Central NJ’s individuals and families in their life’s journey.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (New Brunswick, NJ)
Since 1974, RMHC has created programs that strengthen families during difficult times. RMHC provides vital resources and compassionate care to children and their families being served by leading hospitals worldwide.

The RAINE Foundation (Hazlet, NJ)
Since its beginnings, RAINE has positively impacted the the Bayshore Community – by providing food, clothing, assistance during the holidays, and various other necessities for families in crisis.

Toni’s Kitchen (Montclair, NJ)
Toni’s Kitchen provides food to our neighbors in need in ways that respect their dignity, improve health and foster independence.

Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (Trenton, NJ)
TASK welcomes young volunteers. If you’re 13 or older, you can help with meal service and other projects at our Escher Street location. If you’re younger than 13 – or any age, you can still help by participating in a Service Project or Donation Drive. However you contribute, you’ll be positively influencing your community and improving lives.

United Way of Monmouth and Ocean County (Various Locations)
UWMOC’s mission is to bridge the gaps to education, financial stability and health for every person in our community.

Veterans Memorial Homes (Paramus, NJ)
Their volunteers and donations are incorporated into their Activity Programs to provide a full array of Activities for each resident according to his or her capacity and preference thereby ensuring an enhanced quality of life.

Volunteer Match (Various Locations)
Volunteer Match allows users to search by zip code for volunteer opportunities throughout the United States. You can tailor your search by interest, such as crisis support, education, homelessness, hunger or international, or to find specific organizations such as Big Brother/Big Sister. The opportunities are marked with special icons if kids, teens, seniors or groups are especially welcome to volunteer. Users can subscribe to a monthly e-newsletter or read news stories about volunteering. There is a special section for “virtual volunteering” opportunities.

Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge (Medford, NJ)
The overall mission of Cedar Run is to serve as a community resource on the importance of protecting and enhancing healthy ecosystems for all.

YMCA Togetherhood (Various Locations)
The Y’s Togetherhood program connects people from all backgrounds to plan and carry out volunteer projects that address a real need in their community.

Youth Services America (Various Locations)
Youth Services America allows you to pinpoint exactly the volunteer opportunity you want. The database allows you to search by zip code, city, state, or country. You can also include your preferences for how long or often you want to help, your skills or special interests, and the population you want to serve, such as children, families, seniors, or physically challenged individuals. Opportunities are available for all ages.

Volunteer Activities to do as a Family:

Collect packaged food
Many local churches and community centers either donate directly or have a line in to groups that coordinate relief efforts for local shelters and other agencies that are providing aid to the families and individuals in need. Your kids can pitch in by going shopping with you to pick out items for donation, such as canned food, crackers, diapers, and more, and then helping you deliver those goods for distribution.
Donate used toys and books
Kids can also take a look around the house for items that are in good shape but that they no longer use, like toys and clothes that they’ve outgrown. Find donation locations here.
Walk or bike ride for charity
Many national organizations hold family and kids walk-a-thons or bike-a-thons.
Clean up parks
As children get older, they can participate in clean-up events at the park. Even younger kids can help out by picking up litter. Contact your local park to see what events families can participate in.
Work at a community garden
Helping plant flowers, vegetables, and other growing things is a wonderful activity for children. They’ll gain a tremendous sense of accomplishment as they watch the results of their work grow, and they’ll be able to spend time outdoors among nature while doing something valuable for the community.
Help neighbors
Kids can volunteer to help elderly neighbors by shoveling their sidewalk or by helping mom and dad bake some treats with mom or dad to take to them. Older kids can help babysit young neighborhood kids or help them learn to read. (Your child’s help may be especially appreciated by a working single mother or a family that’s busy taking care of a new baby or an elderly parent.)
Donate to animal shelters
Animal shelters are always in need of food, toys, blankets, and other pet care items. Children love animals and become very motivated to care for them if they see how they are in need. Plan a trip to a local shelter so they can see first-hand how their donations will help.
Collect donations for charities, particularly those that help children
The empathy and compassion that children feel for others who are ill, particularly other children, is heartwarming. As most people do, children feel powerless over the health of others; however, they can certainly feel some control through contributing to research and treatment.
Visit the elderly
There are many elderly people within nursing homes who love to spend time with children. Playing a game or having a quick conversation can do wonders for lifting the spirits of someone who doesn’t have many visitors or who isn’t able to leave the nursing home often.